Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-14
BIG POKER UP NORTH.
One Game that Lasted Three Days.
How the Big Four Used TO
Amuse Themselves
major Edwarda' Success as Bluffer-Great
Luck In a Four Spot-Virtue's
Reward.
Chicago Herald

OF draw poker IN the northwest has been
gradually dying out during the past five
years. Those men who made the Red
river valley famous for the reCklessness
with which the national game was played
within its boundaries have turned their
attention to legitimate business in towns
and cities that have sprung up along the
banks of the Red river, and when they
turn their attention now to cards it is
more for pleasure than profit.
The incoming of emigrants from east
ern communities has robbed this north
western country Of its wildness, and the
frontier has been pushed TO the very base
of the Rocky mountains. With this grad
ual driving forward of the frontier line,
the abandon that marked the lives of
early settlers in the eastern extremity of
Dakota Territory has fallen into natural
decay, and tide of social refinement set
in that has carried away all but faint
vestige of the old customs.
Ten years ago there was g cOterie of
poker players in that country who won
and lost fortunes on cards, and they did
it as cheerfully as they now risk their
money in real estate and other speculg-
tions that carry with them an air of
legitimacy.
Major A. W. Edwards was, probably,
the "stlffest' poker player in the Red
River valley few years ago, and there
we're but few of the best who had the
courage to meet him on neutral ground
He never won the reputation of playing
anything but an honest game He did
not depend on tricks and clever manIpu-
lation of the cards for success, but car
ried into the game with him an amount OF
nerve and "sand" that usually scared his
opponent into defeat.
In 1880 he was on his way to the
national capital with but a few hundred
dollars in mis- pocket. In st. Paul he met
a couple of gentlemen from Louisville,
Ky, who asked him 70 take g hand at
cards. The Major never refused an invi-
tatiOn of that nature, and party of four
was soon made up. The gentlemen from
Louisville are well known in political cir
Cles, and have the reputation of being
very clever card players. The game
began in q small room on the third floor
of the Merchants hotel early in the even
ing, and the chips shifted from hand to
hand without material gain to either
player until daybreak, when the Major
pulled his heavy SLOUGH hat over his eyes,
and, tuCking one foot under him, his
fevorite position when playing, started
out to play his game, For time he sur
prised the southrons at his utter abandon,
but he never showed his hand when he
could avoid it. At last ne stood "pat."
His opponents drew cards, and one man
forced the fight with three kings, another
three queens, and third four ten spots
The Major made bid for more money.
He was promptly raised. The Major
met the raise and went it $500 better, but
his opponents were not tiredJ and asked
him for more. He had only $50 in his
pocket, and calling belI-boy ne sent q
note down stairs to Colonel Allen, pro-
prietor Of the Merchants hotel, asking
him for loan of $1,000. The Colonel
knew his man, and up went G check for
the desired amount, and the Major
Coolly dropped the check on the
pile of chips and money in tie center Of
the table, and, leaning back in mis- cnairy
took cigar from mis- pocket and lighted
it. This was too much for the others,
who sized him up for four aces, and they
threw up their hands. The Major drew
in the money, cashed the chips and found
that he had won 81, 200 on the hand His
opponents looked at their watches,
yawned, and pushing back their chairs
said they were tired and would quit play
ing. Before they left the room they
picked up the Majors hand and found
he had "stood pat" and Won the pot on O
pair of tours.
The four-spot the Major considered his |
lucky card and never failed to play it |
hard whether he held one or q quartet of |
them, and he says It never yet lost for
him.
Colonel Morrow, q citizen of Fargo who |
to that country early in the |
seventies from the soil Of Virginia, was
about the only card player in that country
who wouldn't take bluff from the Ma
lor. The men were the warmest friends.
They seemed to run q mutual admiration
society, but when they faced each other
over & stack of chips they fought
as warmly and as determinedly as
though they were the bitterest enemies.
In 10 the Major and the Colonel sat
down to 4 game in "Billy" Morrison's
star chamber, which was then the head
quarters of sporting men in that part of
The country. The game had been q hard
one, Slightly in favor of the Colonel.
Finally he opened good sized Jackpot
IN pair of kings. The Major stayed
md drew two cards, which gave him
lothing but q "boo-tall'' flush. The
Colonel took three cards, but didn't bet
er his hand, and he bet $500 that his
Kings were good. The Msjor pulled 8
out of his pocket, made out q
heck for $4,000 and dropped it on the
.enter of the table. This was q challenge
o the Colonels nerve which he didn't
hesitate moment to accept, and without
my show of excitement he promptly
allied the bet. The Major threw down
lis broken-baCk flush, the Colonel dropped
lis kings and rsked in the money. The
,sme stopped there.
Alexander Mckenzie, sheriff of Bur !
eigh county for many years, was a strong !
layer, and ranking with him were John /,
Iaggart, for fifteen years sheriff of Cass }
ounty, and JudsOn Lanoure, resident
f Pembina, where he owns great deal
f property, and is sort of whipper-in
or the Republican party in that portion
t the territory.
These men were known throughout the
erritory as the "big four" and whenever I
neY came together there WAS q hard 7
anne. John Haggart was reckless 7
layer, but his good fortune always 7
ulled him through game with winning 7
D his credit. "Jud" Lamoure, as he I
7as femilisrly called, was usually the +
ictim. This quartet started game six t
T.